Clamp.



Patented May 7,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

CLAMP.

. H. SOMMER.

APPLICATLON FILED MAR. 20, 1916.

R E t 2 E um" mu m I WILLIAM H. SOMMER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE FIRST TRUST & SAVINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION OF OHIO, AND WILLIAM E. STONE, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, TRUSTEES.

CLAMP.

Application filed March 20, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. SOMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to clamps, and relates particularly to that form of clamp used on wire fence machines and usually disposed between the wire connecting mechanisms and the reel or wrapper of the machine, said clamp having means to grip the strand wires of the fence fabric and to crimp the same.

The invention has for its object to improve the crimping mechanism on the clamp and to provide a new and improved means for actuating said crimping mechanism,said actuating means being of few parts, simple in construction and having a timed relation relative to the other working parts of the machine to insure the proper gripping, crimping and releasing of the strand wires during their movement from the wire connecting mechanisms to the reel or wrapper of the fence machine.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the clamp;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the clamp as the same would appear if taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and shows in addition a guiding roller for the strand Wires and a butterfly wheel for guiding the strand wires from the clamp to the reel or wrapper;

Fig. 3 is an end view partially in section showing parts of the clamp in dotted lines and the position of certain of the rollers which operate upon the crimping bars of the clamp;

Fig. 4 is an end view similar to Fig. 3 but of the opposite end of the clamp, the same being shown in dotted lines, and in addition. a roller and its position is illustrated which acts upon the'crimping bars to return them to a position to receive the strand wires of the fence fabric.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1918.

Serial No. 85,363.

one end of the clamp showing the locking means for holding the crimping bars in clamping position on the strand Wires;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing how the crimping bars grip and crimp a strand wire;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the locking parts for holding the crimping bars in locking position;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view showing a steel hardened pin in one of the crimping bars; and

Fig. 9 is a plan view partially in section of the roller and the support shown in Fig. 4:.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The clamp may be of any suitable diameter and also of any suitable length, and includes a driving shaft 10 on which are mounted in spaced relation the 'heads 11, which support the gripping and crimping bars for the. strand wires, and guiding bars to present an annular surface on which the wires may be directed around the clamp. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that there are a plurality of gripping and crimping mechanisms suitably spaced around the clamp on the heads 11, and the description of one set of gripping and crimping devices will suflice for all, as they are all duplicates of each other and operate and are actuated in the same manner.

12, 12 and 13 designate gripping and clamping bars which extend longitudinally of the clamp and are mounted upon the heads 11, bars 12, 12 being fixedly secured to the heads 11, and between said bars 12 is disposed the bar 13 which is movable longitudinally of the clamp between said bars and retained in operative relation therewith by the straps 1 1 secured to the bars 12. One end of the bar 13 is rounded for a portion of its depth as at 15 and has the squared shoulder portion 16, for purposes which will be more fully explained, and the opposite end of said bar 13 is rounded its full depth as at 17, for purposes which will be more fully explained. The bar 13 at that end which is provided with the rounded and squared shoulder portion, as explained, is

provided with a cut-out portion 18, and operating in said cut-out portion is a pawl 19 carried upon a stem. 20, the opposite ends of the stem passing through openings 21 in the bars 12 to provide a pivotal support for the pawl 19 on the bars 12 within the cut-out portion 18, as best seen in Fi 's. 1, 5 and 7 The outer end of the pawl is formed with a tooth 22 having the squared or flat engaging face 23 adapted to ride over and engage or bearagainst the squared shoulder portion 16 on the end of the bar 13. This engagement between the end of the pawl 19 and the end of the bar 13 will take place immediately after the engagement of the strand wires by the bar 13, in a manner to be more fully explained, and which will. be released therefrom at a proper time in the rotation of the clamp, and when it is desired to release the strand wires from the clamp.

t predetermined points, either at uniform or graduated distances from each other, the bar 13 is cut out and formed with recessed or slotted portions 24:, providing the spaced walls 25 and 26, between wh1ch and into said recesses or slots strand wires will seat themselves during the rotation of the clamp. As the strand wlres will be operated upon by the wall portions 26 of said slots or recesses 24, steel hardened pins 27 which are replaceable are set in said walls to receive the wear and form a bearing sur- The bars 12, at points which coincide with the recesses or slots 24 in the bar 13, are also provided with recessed or slotted portions 28, providing the spaced walls 29 and 30, between which and into said recesses or slots 28 the strand wires will seat themselves during the rota tion of the clamp, and as the strand Wires will be operated uponby the walls 29 of the slots'28'inthe bars 12, andv in cooperation with the wall 26 ofthe bar'13 steel hardened pins '31 which are replaceable are set in said walls to receive the wear and form a hearing surface for the strand wires. The steel hardened pins 27 and 31 have beveled ends 32 to facilitate the easy entrance and removal of the strand wires between said pins 27 and 31, it being observed by reference to Fig. 6 that the pins of the bars 13 and the pins of the bars 12 are placed in the opposite walls so as to form a gripping means uponeach'side of-the strand wires, and as will be explained, the steel hardened pins 27 in the bar 13, will be moved toward the pins 31 for the purpose of' gripping the strand wires between said pins and'to crimp the wires therebetween, as shown in Fig, 6.

7 Extending longitudinally of the clamp and secured. to the heads 11 in juxtaposition to the bars 12 are other bars 33 which constitute a part of the frame-work of the clamp and serve to retain the bars 12 in fixed positiom'and said bars- 33 Where the strandwires ride over the same to enter the recesses or slots in the bars 12 and 1.3, are formed with recesses 34. in their outer surface to.

part of the framework of the clamp and pro' duce a surface over which the strand wires will travel, as shown in Fig. 2. The bars 12, 13 and 33 areseated in recesses orcutout portions 36 in the'heads l1, and the bars 35 are seated in slotted or recessed portions 37 in said heads 11, see Fig. 5.

At one end of theclamp in diametrically opposed positions to each other, and in a vertical plane extending through the axisof the shaft 10 are rollers 38 and 39, each being journaled on vertically disposed stub shafts 40 having a bearing in a frame part 41. These rollers 38 and 39 are located at that end of the clamp at which the pawls19 which will lockthe bar. 13 in the operative position shown in Fig. 6. Duringthe further and continued rotation of the clamp and when eachbar 13 comes into alinement with the roller 39, this roller will engage withthe rounded surface 15 of the bar 13 and impart a further slight longitudinal movement of saidbar, which will permit the pawl 19 to release itself from the end of the bar 13, as shown in Fig. 1, so that immediately thereafter and during the further and continued rotation of the clamp, the roller 42' which is yieldingly" held in" opera.- tive position by'means of a spring 43, will bear against the rounded portion 17 on the opposite endofeachof the. bars 1'3andmove said. bars in an. opposite direction longitudinally ofthe clamp, or in a retracted. position from that in which the bar 13 is shown in Fig. 6, so that as the clamp moves into a position for thestrand wires to enter the slots or recesses 24 and 28in the bars 13- and. 12, said-wires may enter the-same without being impeded'or retarded, in which position the bars 13; may be acted upon by the roller 38*to' clamp the strand wires, as shown in Fig. 6, and. said barsil3retained in: their inward positionsthroughthe engagementof the pawls 19 with the "ends-of'the bars 13,

O movement of the bars 13 will permit the as shown in Fig. 1. The roller 42 is journaled on the outer end of a bar 44, to which said bar one end of the spring 43 is secured, its opposite end being secured to a frame part of the machine. The opposite end of the bar 44 is angular in shape and is secured to a frame part of the machine by the yielding connecting bolts 45, see Figs. 4 and 9. The spring 43 is provided to hold the bar 44 with the roller 42 in an operative position to engage with the rounded end portion 17 of the bars 13, and the yielding connection 45 for the bar 44 with the frame is such that said bar may give when engagement takes place between the roller 42 and any of the bars 13 without any possibility of breakage of such operative parts.

The'shaft 10 of the clamp is provided with a gear wheel 46 and such gear wheel may be driven by gearing from any part'of the fence machine on which the clamp is mounted. To guide the strand wires to the clamp and in a position to enter the slots or recesses 24 and 28 in the bars 13 and 12 respectively, I provide the roller 47, see Fig. 2, and in said figure I also show a butterfly wheel 48 to guide the strand wires as they leave the clamp, and to retain the same in operative position on the clamp and until they are released to be directed to the reel or wrapper, not shown.

In operation, the strand wires leaving the wire connecting mechanisms, with the stay wires attached thereto, may be drawn out by any pull-out mechanism from which the finished fabric is fed over the clamp, the strand wires passing under the guiding roller 47 and into the slots or recesses 24 and 28 in the bars 13 and 12 respectively, as they come into position to receive the strand wires during the continued rotation of the clamp. The bars 13 having been moved to inoperative position by the roller 42 bearing against the rounded end 17 of said bars 13, permitting the strand wires to enter into the slots or recesses 24 and 28, the bars 13 will be moved to gripping position to crimp the strand wires as shown in Fig. 6, by the engagement of the roller 38 with the rounded ends 15 of said bars 13, which pawls 19 to drop over the ends of the bars 13 by gravity and lock the same in the crimping position shown in Fig. 6. When the clamp has made a one-half revolution,

carrying the bars 13 from engaging position with the roller 38 to engaging position with the roller 39, said roller 39 through its engagement with the bars 13 will impart a further slight additional longitudinal move ment to said bars 13, permitting the pawls 19 to release themselves by gravity from the ends of the bars 13, as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhen said bars 13 have moved to engaging position with the roller 42, such engagement the wires during heat and cold, as is well.

understood.

.It is observed that various changes may be made in the construction and method of operation of the clamp without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the details of construction shown.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a clamp, in combination, a plurality of clamping and crimping bars, one of which is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the other, and a pivotally supported member adapted to engage with an end of said movable bar to lock it in crimping position.

2. In a clamp, in combination, a plurality of clamping and crimping bars, one of which is adapted to be moved longitudinally of the others, means adapted to engage said movable bar to move it to crimping position, a pivotally supported member adapted to engage with an end of said movable bar to lock it in crimping position, means to impart slight additional movement to said movable bar after the crimping operation to permit said locking member to release itself by gravity, and means to move said movable bar to inoperative position.

3. In a clamp, in combination, a rotatable support, a plurality of clamping and crimping bars mounted on said support, one of which is adapted to be moved longitudinally of said support, a roller at one end of said support adapted to engage and reciprocate said movable bar, a member pivotally mounted on said support adapted by gravity to engage with the end of said movable bar to lock it in crimping position, a roller at the corresponding end of said support as said first-mentioned roller to impart slight additional movement to said movable bar after the crimping operation to permit said locking member to release itself by gravity, and a roller at the opposite end of said support to move said movable bar to inoperative p0 sition.

4. In a clamp, in combination, a rotatable support, a plurality of sets of clamping and crimping bars mounted on said support, each set of bars including three bars, the center bar of each set adapted to be reciprocated while the remaining bars of each set are immovable, diametrically disposed rollers at one end of said support, one of said rollers adapted to engage each reciprocalbar to move it to clamping and crimpingposition, a locking member having a pivotal connection with each pair of immovable bars and adapted to lock said reciprocal bars in crimping position whenmoved' by saidfirstmentioned roller,.the other of said rollers adaptedto engage and impart slight additional reciprocal movement to said movable bars to permit said locking members to release themselves by gravity from said movable bars, and a roller mounted at the opposite end of said support, adapted to engage with said reciprocal bars after the operationof said second-mentioned rollers, to move'said reciprocal bars to inoperative position.

5; Ina clamp, in combination, ashaft, heads mounted thereon to rotate therewith, a plurality of. sets ofclamping andcrimping bars, each set of bars including one bar which is-adapted to be reciprocated on said heads, locking means associated with each set of bars adapted to engage with and lock said reciprocal bars in crimping position,'diametrically-disposed rollers at one end-of said clamp, one adapted to move said reciprocal bars to crimping position, the other of said rollers adapted to engage with and impart slight additional movement to said reciprocal bars to permit the release of said locking means, and a roller at the opposite end ofsaidclamp adapted to engagev with and move said reciprocal bars in an. opposite direction and into inoperative position.

16. In a clamp, in combination, a shaft, heads mounted thereon to rotate therewith, a plurality of sets of clamping and crimping bars, each set of bars including one bar which is adapted to bereciprocated on said heads. locking means associated with each set of bars. adapted to engage with and lock said reciprocal bars in crimping position, diametrically disposed rollers at one end of said clamp, one adapted to move said reciprocal barsto crimping position, the other of said iollers adapted to engage with and impart slight additional movement to said reciprocalbars to permit the release of said locking means, a roller at the opposite end ofsaid clamp adapted to engage with and move said reciprocal bars in anopposite direction andinto inoperative position, a." support for'said last-mentioned roller, and means for holding said roller in yielding engagement with said reciprocal bars.

7. In aclamp, incombination, aplurality of clamping and crimping bars, the outside bars having'fixed positions and. the center bar adapted to be reciprocated therebetween, said center bar having'avcut-out portion at one end, a pawl pivoted between saidfixed barsand operable in said.-cutrontportionrof said center bar. and adapted'to have. engagemerit with-the end of said center bar to to lock the same inzcrimping'position, means to move said center bar-to crimpingposition, other means-to move said centeribar to permit said pawl to release itselffromysaid center bar by gravity, said fixedand said center bars each having recessed portions which are adapted to coincide and to; receive strand wires, and bearing pins in theixwalls' of the-recesses of said bars.

9. In a clamp, in combination, a plurality of clamping and'crimping bars,1the-outside bars having fixed positions andthe center bar adapted to be reciprocated therebetween, said center bar having a'cut-out'portion at one end, a pawl pivoted betweenv said fixed bars and. operable in said cut-out portion of said center bar andladapted to have engagement with the end-of said centertbar to lock the same in crimping: position,: a roller adapted to bear against'one endof said center bar to move ittto crimping'posi tion, a second roller. adapted to bear against the corresponding end of said center bar as said first-mentioned roller to give addie tional slight movementto saidvcenterbarto permit said pawl to releaseitself by gravity" from said center'bar, and athirdroller to impart reverse movement to said centerzbar to move it to an inoperative position,.and a yielding support for said last-mentioned roller.v

10. In a clamp, in combination, aplurality of: clamping andlcrimpingbars, the out side bars having fixed positions and the center bar adapted to be'reciprocateditherebetween, each of said bars provided with cut-out portions adapted to coincide, replaceable bearing pins in corresponding walls of the recesses of said fixed barsya re placeable bearing pin: in thewvall ofsaid recesses of said center Lbar, opposite said pins in said fixed bar, whereby they 'may engage and crimp a wire. therebetween, means to; reciprocatesaid center bar, .means to engage one end of said center: baryto lock it in crimping position, andmeanszto'move said. center barto release :said: lockingimeans;

11. In a'clamp, in combiriatiomarevoluble. support, clamping. andgcrimping bars fOII said support, certain: of said'barsrgadapted to be reciprocated, means to move said rebars to move the same to inoperative posiciprocal bars to crimping position, means to tion, a support for said reversing means, lock said reciprocal bars after being moved yielding securing means for said support, 16 to crimping position, other means to impart and means to yieldingly hold said reversing 5 additional movement to said reciprocal bars means against said reciprocal bars.

to release said locking means, means to impart reverse movement to said reciprocal WILLIAM H. SOMMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

